Authentic Ones

https://www.press.thechosen.tv/

This week our church began a series in sermons and Life Groups focusing on "The Chosen," the groundbreaking crowd-funded TV series based on the life of Jesus and His followers.  IMDB summarizes the plot with these words . . .
"A charismatic fisherman drowning in debt.  A troubled woman wrestling with real demons.  A young tax collector ostracized by society.  A religious leader questioning his faith tradition."

My wife, kids, and I watched the first two seasons and eagerly anticipate the third.  As a proponent for the Ordinary aspects of life, one of the things that I enjoy most about "The Chosen" is the portrayal of the disciples (and Jesus, for that matter) as normal people.  No halos.  No smug looks.  No heavenly gazes.  Their "realness" catches my attention.

Too often when readers encounter the Bible, they find themselves reading the stories in a setting similar to "in a land far, far away" and picturing Simon, Mary, Nicodemus, and the likes thereof as characters that belong in tales that begin with the words, "Once upon a time . . ."

As you watch "The Chosen," you will see Matthew step in dung, Simon and Andrew frustrate one another, and Jesus good-naturedly wink in response to a friendly verbal jab.  

I have been preaching from God's Word for three decades.  Several times during those thirty years, I have heard men, women, and teens in our church families say something along the lines of "Mark, thank you for being real."  Those comments often come after a sermon in which I have spoken of personal struggles, admitted failures, or laughed at my own foibles.  Thankfully, my pastor and other early influences taught me, through example and word, to be authentic.  

Someone once said that we all approach Christ on equal ground - the foot of the cross.  Peter referred to his readers as "a royal priesthood."  In other words, Peter saw them as equals.  He understood the truth of community that together bows before one Lord joined together by one faith and one baptism.  Because of God's love for us, He invites us to come to Him.  In the words of the writer of Hebrews . . .

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Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

As believers join together humbly, we can approach the throne.  One of the greatest ways to grow in humility is to be real and radiate authenticity.

Let's be real.

#ordinarylives

Follow this link to learn more about The Chosen:
https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen